A bill

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-130, RELATING TO HEALTH CARE FACILITY LICENSURE DEFINITIONS, SO AS TO ADD A DEFINITION FOR "ACUTE HOSPITAL CARE AT HOME"; BY AMENDING SECTION 44-7-170, RELATING TO CERTIFICATE OF NEED PROGRAM EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT ACUTE HOSPITAL CARE AT HOME PROGRAMS AND SERVICES; AND BY ADDING SECTION 44-7-267 SO AS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO PROMULGATE REGULATIONS FOR LICENSING ACUTE HOSPITAL CARE AT HOME PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1.  Section 44-7-130 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    (25) "Acute hospital care at home" means acute-level hospital care to treat a subset of diagnoses that respond safely and effectively to home-based acute care, utilizing technology to provide continuous remote patient monitoring and connectivity to the patient and developing in-home services to ensure the same level of care in the home as in a traditional hospital stay as well as patient safety. Acute hospital care at home must be provided by a hospital licensed in this State pursuant to this article to eligible patients who have provided consent to such care, utilizing a multidisciplinary team to deliver the care.

SECTION 2.  Section 44-7-170(A) of the S.C. Code is amended to read:

    (A) The following are exempt from Certificate of Need review:

       (1) the relocation of a licensed hospital in the same county in which the hospital is currently located, as long as:

           (a) any Certificate of Need issued to the hospital for a project to be located at the hospital's existing location has been fulfilled, withdrawn, or has expired in accordance with Section 44-7-230 and the department's implementing regulations;  and

           (b) the proposed site of relocation is utilized in a manner that furthers health care delivery and innovation for the citizens of the State of South Carolina;

       (2) the purchase, merger, or otherwise the acquisition of an existing hospital by another person or health care facility;

       (3) crisis stabilization unit facilities.  Notwithstanding subsection (C), crisis stabilization unit facilities will not require a written exemption from the department.; and

       (4) acute hospital care at home programs and services delivered by a licensed acute care hospital. The delivery of acute hospital care at home programs and services by a licensed acute care hospital does not require a written exemption from the department. Additionally, patients enrolled in the hospital care at home program shall not be considered within the licensed bed capacity of the hospital participating in the program.

SECTION 3.  Article 3, Chapter 7, Title 44 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

    Section 44-7-267.  The department shall promulgate regulations for licensing an acute care hospital's acute hospital care at home programs and services. At a minimum, the regulations must address:

    (1) diagnoses that respond safely and effectively to home-based acute care;

    (2) patient eligibility criteria and screening requirements, including patient consent;

    (3) multidisciplinary team requirements, including roles and responsibilities of team members;

    (4) standards for continuous remote patient monitoring and connectivity with the patient;

    (5) standards for the development of in-home services to ensure same level of care in the home as in a traditional hospital stay; and

    (6) standards for patient safety.

SECTION 4.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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